Flowers to Grow in the Summer in Georgia

Georgia’s warm, humid summers are perfect for growing flowers, particularly those that don’t like to get chilly. The Appalachian Mountains and regions along the east coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean also offer some protection and cooler weather, giving plants a break from stifling days. Gardeners who want to eliminate as much guesswork as possible should consider selecting Peach State natives as well as complimentary imports.

Black-Eyed Susans

Black-eyed Susans are popular daisy-like plants that grow in Georgia and throughout the United States. Flower petals are yellow with dark seeded centers. These perennial herbs grow up to 3 feet tall in well-drained soil and full sun or partial shade, making them good border plants and additions to gardens that need some height. The flowers bloom from June through August.

Columbine

This perennial, which originally hails from Europe, features brightly colored, bell-shaped flowers in several hues that nod toward the ground. The plants grow up to 3 feet tall. They prefer partial shade and moist, rich, well-drained soil. Hummingbirds enjoy the blooms, which appear in early summer. Plants can be easily started from seed, but do not bloom until the second year of growth.

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weed is a perennial bush sporting bright orange flowers. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to them for their nectar. These bushes grow up to 2 feet, and can be grown by seed. Blooms appear May through September, and plants have a high drought tolerance, making them a popular summer flowering plant. They grow best in spots that receive full sun or part shade, and in well-drained, sandy soil.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are one of the more noticeable summer flowers to grow. The flowers, with their large, seed-filled heads surrounded by bright yellow petals, are unmistakable. Dwarf varieties can grow less than 2 feet tall, and larger varieties more than 8 feet tall. Flower heads can grow to 12 inches in diameter. These annuals should be planted in full sun and well-drained soil. Their tall, strong stalks can be used as structures for other vine plants, like pole beans, to grow up.

California Poppies

This plant is a Georgia annual. Its bright, showy flowers are late-summer bloomers. Plants like to grow in full sun and well-drained soil. They do better during dry periods rather than wet. Cup-shaped flowers are paper thin and come in red, orange and yellow. It does not do well in heavy clay, so areas in Georgia where this soil is found should be tilled and amended to improve its structure.